Hello again, from Chiang Mai!
Many of you have been asking about what I’m doing day-to-day here in Thailand. We have just concluded our second week of ministry, and every day looks a little different. Each team on my squad is assigned a different ministry, where we spend weekdays. My team (Sonrisa) and another works at a home for women in crisis called Wildflower Home. We do lots of manual labor alongside some of our new Thai friends.
Often, this entails pulling weeds, moving dirt/gravel, using wheelbarrows, and shoveling clay. The work is physically challenging, but so satisfying! It’s pleasing to be able to see how much we accomplish throughout the day, and it’s wonderful to be working in nature. I have enjoyed getting down in the mud with the snails to work the ground. In fact, strangely enough, pulling weeds has become one of my new favorite tasks. I am so in awe of how God uses the simplest of moments to cultivate such powerful conversations. Just in this past week, I have shared and received so many pure moments of connection with my team that have brought us closer. We encourage one another and find interesting topics to keep us engaged and bring laughter during the monotonous or repetitive moments of labor.
While I have truthfully enjoyed our toil, I must be honest to admit that there have been some serious struggles as well. It’s actually insane how difficult the mind games are in the heat of the day during work… especially when new piles of clay continually are replenished after hours of you getting to the bottom of them. The enemy fights against my joy, chipping away at my trust in God’s purpose. The hours sometimes seem to feel like days, and I find myself aching to stop
So, what makes it worth it? Well, that’s easy. The abundance of love I receive daily from my heavenly father covers any and all temporary discomfort I may face. Each morning, a groggy version of myself awaits the bumpy dirt road that leads to the Wildflower Home. I stare at the ground to watch the tires roll through the always-present, caramel-colored mud puddles. I glance up and out the open window at the green field, which usually has a family of water buffalo grazing. Finally, our driver takes us through the open gates, where we are greeted by the smiles and giggles of the beautiful children in the daycare. We hop out, leave our shoes on the green concrete outside, and walk on the cold tile barefoot to get to the tables—where we rest for a few minutes. This is when preparations for the day are made—water bottles are filled, hair is braided, sunscreen sprayed, and quiet conversation held. I love to enter this beautiful room. White walls with delicately-painted flowers frame a spacious, open-to-the-outside area that overlooks the pond and is covered by a beautiful bamboo/wooden ceiling.
Some wonderful Thai women welcome us and always say a spirited “good morning!” with waving and smiles. In good time, Sister appears at the doorway and asks us if we are ready to work. After our enthusiastic “yes!,” she says “come, come” and we follow her into the unknown of our daily project. Next is my favorite part of the day—lunch! It’s always a plentiful spread of authentic Thai food. Typically this is some sort of rice or noodles, veggies, soup, and the occasional French fries! We always chow down and then head up the smooth, peach stairs, where we rest and sip coffee before returning to work. Just on the left at the top of the stairs, there’s an open doorway, outside of which is a small fish pond and a mural of a waterfall. There are big windows cracked open along the hallway that lead to a few rooms, one with a piano in it. The space almost demands a quiet peace, and the Lord always uses my time there to restore and refresh my body and mind.
This past Friday, we had a night of learning about what many women in this area are trapped in, and we spent some time in intercession. This is a problem that is close to my heart, and I allowed myself to simply feel the weight of it. My heart broke for people in this industry around the world, and I know it is a large part of why the Lord has called me to Thailand. Going forward, I am trying to be in continual prayer over this area and others, asking God to go everywhere I can’t, and bring protection. I pray that my time here shows at least one person an ounce of what it is like to be loved by Jesus. I thank God for whispering my worth, value, and dignity over me since I was born, and I hope to remind others of these things.
Here are some verses that got me through this week:
Proverbs 23:12
“Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge”
Psalm 51:12
“Restore me to the joy of your salvation”
Acts 4:29-30
“Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
So, I write to you today with blistered hands and a splintered heart, hopefully expectant and joyfully present.
Thanks again for the prayers and for reading.
Always with love,
–Lexi Hatten
